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We each want to find some new exciting form of fossil, but what should a new collector, or just a person seeking help, do when they find a 'suspect' rock/fossil? Well, first I recommend that they search the Internet for the term 'fossils' and use the Image category. Familiarize yourself with the types of fossils that are out there. Books are also a good source. Try the common ones like the ones from the Smithsonian Field Guide series. Also consider where the item was found. If it was found amongst a lot of volcanic material, or in a pile of Granite or Schist, or some other form of Igneous or Metamorphic material, then the chances are rarer (very rare) that it is a fossil. Most fossils are found in Sedimentary rocks like Limestone, Shale, Sandstone. IF you do not know what these terms mean, look them up too. Look at the item carefully and see if there are: parallel lines, bumps or small pits in a uniform pattern, any sort of symmetry radiating out from a center point, patterns that do look like something you are familiar with (seashells for example). There are things that occur naturally that resemble fossils, and they can trick people. They are called Pseudofossils, and you can see a common one here: http://engineering.curiouscatblog.net/imag...nese_oxides.jpg Looks a lot like a fossil plant/fern, but it is not. Most fossil bone material will have a 'pithy' look to it somewhere on the specimen. Bones are not solid masses. I am sure that other members can add to this posting on how to determine if what you have is a fossil or not.
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Hi my name is Mckinley and I am very new to fossil hunting. Found my first sedimentary rock full of small fossils near chenango forks.i am going camping at north south lake in the north eastern Catskills Does anyone know if there are fossils in this area ? What type of rocks would they be in? Thanks